Abstract

In this paper, the non-edible Mesua ferrea L. (MFL) seed oil with an acid value 18.8 mg KOH/g of oil, was tranesterified in the presence 1 MPa hydrogen pressure and also without the application of external pressure at 250–275 °C for 1 hour. The heterogeneous 1–5 wt.% Musa balbisiana Colla underground stem (MBCUS) ash catalyst was used during transesterification. The catalyst has a nano-metric dimension and has a versatile composition that consist of several alkali metal oxides, alkaline earth metal oxides, non-transition metal oxides and nonmetal oxides. The resultant biodiesel was separated using rotary vacuum evaporator and purified using molecular sieve and carbon columns. The biodiesel so obtained from MFL seed oil have been characterized as per available methods and found that the fuel properties are in conformity to ASTM and EN standards. 5 wt.% catalyst was found more effective as compared to other composition during ethanolysis. The effect of hydrogen pressure upon tranesterification was found negligible. Ethanol is a renewable liquid because it is made from renewable precursor such as biomass. It is expected that the use of whole renewable precursor during the process will fulfil the demand of 100% Green Technology for biodiesel production.

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